Mission accomplished: Now Phelps aims to go to another level

All-time greatest Olympian sets sights on world championships after winning three gold medals at Pan Pacific Championships

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Michael Phelps swims the breaststroke leg in the 200m individual medley. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:30pm, 25 Aug 2014Updated: 12:33pm, 25 Aug 2014

Michael Phelps says he accomplished all he wanted to in his first international meet back from retirement, after winning three gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia.

The all-time greatest Olympian, who has won 18 gold medals at the Games, improved through the four-day meet at the Gold Coast which finished on Sunday, winning the 100-metre butterfly and as part of the successful men’s medley and 4x200m freestyle relay teams.

Four months into his comeback, his form was in stark contrast to this month’s US Championships, where he failed to win.

I finished pretty strong in all my swims here, now I just have to step on the first half

Michael Phelps

But the 29-year-old said there was room to improve as he looks to next year’s world championships in Kazan, Russia, and further ahead to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I think for my first real international meet back we accomplished everything we wanted to,” he said.

“We were able to find out some of the things I need to improve on over the next year and things I want to improve on.

Michael Phelps swims the butterfly leg in the 200m individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships. Photo: EPA

“It is frustrating at times, but it’s usually how I respond well, so this is going to be a fun year and it’s going to be an exciting year.

“I have already started talking with [coach] Bob Bowman about some of the things that I need to do, like times that I need to go even before the world champs next summer.”